US2007247002A1PendingUtilityA1

Wheel with mechanically bonded rim for tracked vehicles

33
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 19, 2006Filed: Apr 19, 2006Published: Oct 25, 2007
Est. expiryApr 19, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Todd M. HuntimerDaniel Palli
B62D 55/14
33
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

An endless track drive system includes a track and multiple shafts bearing outer flanges integrally secured proximate first and second ends of the shaft and a middle flange integrally secured to the shaft between the first and second outer flanges. A central wheel secures to the middle flange and engages the track. The central wheel is formed of first and second semi-circular sections combinable to form a circle. Each half section includes a rim made of polyurethane, or like polymer and a hub made of an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polymer. The hub bears a plurality of projections extending radially outwardly and having a proximal portion secured to the hub and a distal portion forming an outermost portion of the hub. The distal portions are substantially larger in the circumferential direction than the proximal portion. The rim is molded around the plurality of projections.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A wheel for use in an endless track drive having a circumferential direction, a radial direction, and an axis of symmetry, the wheel comprising: 
 a rim including a polymer; and    a hub including a rigid material, the hub bearing a plurality of projections extending in the radial direction outwardly and having a distal portion forming an outermost portion of the hub and a proximal portion, the distal portion being substantially larger in the circumferential direction than the proximal portion, the rim being molded around the plurality of projections.    
   
   
       3 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the rim includes polyurethane and wherein the hub includes an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polymer.  
   
   
       4 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the projections extend substantially entirely across the hub substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry.  
   
   
       5 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the adjacent projections of the plurality of projections define a dovetail cavity therebetween.  
   
   
       6 . The wheel of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent projections of the plurality of projections define a tear-drop shape therebetween.  
   
   
       7 . The endless track of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections further include a groove extending into the plurality of projections parallel to the axis of symmetry.  
   
   
       8 . A wheel comprising: 
 first and second half sections, the first and second half sections combinable to form a circle having a circumferential direction, a radial direction, and an axis of symmetry, each half section including a rim including polyurethane and a hub bearing a plurality of projections extending radially outwardly and having a distal portion forming an outermost portion of the hub and a proximal portion, the distal portion being substantially larger in the circumferential direction than the proximal portion, the rim being molded around the plurality of projections.    
   
   
       9 . The wheel of  claim 8 , wherein the rim includes polyurethane and wherein the hub includes an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polymer.  
   
   
       10 . The wheel of  claim 8 , wherein the projections extend substantially entirely across the hub substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry.  
   
   
       11 . The wheel of  claim 8 , wherein the adjacent projections of the plurality of projections define a dovetail cavity therebetween.  
   
   
       12 . The wheel of  claim 8 , wherein adjacent projections of the plurality of projections define a tear-drop shape therebetween.  
   
   
       13 . The wheel of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of projections further include a groove extending into the plurality of projections parallel to the axis of symmetry.  
   
   
       14 . An endless track drive system comprising: 
 a track;    a shaft comprising first and second outer flanges integrally secured proximate first and second ends of the shaft and a middle flange integrally secured to the shaft between the first and second outer flanges; and    a central wheel secured to the middle flange and engaging the track, the central wheel comprising first and second half sections, the first and second half sections combinable to form a circle having a circumferential direction, a radial direction, and an axis of symmetry, each half section including a rim including polyurethane and a hub including an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polymer, the hub bearing a plurality of projections extending radially outwardly and having a distal portion forming an outermost portion of the hub and a proximal portion, the distal portion being substantially larger in the circumferential direction than the proximal portion, the rim being molded around the plurality of projections.    
   
   
       15 . The endless track of  claim 14 , wherein the projections extend substantially entirely across the hub substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry.  
   
   
       16 . The endless track of  claim 14 , wherein the adjacent projections of the plurality of projections define a dovetail cavity therebetween.  
   
   
       17 . The endless track of  claim 14 , wherein adjacent projections of the plurality of projections define a tear-drop shape therebetween.  
   
   
       18 . The endless track of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of projections further include a groove extending into the plurality of projections parallel to the axis of symmetry.  
   
   
       19 . A method for forming a wheel comprising: 
 forming first and second hub sections, the first and second hub sections combinable to form a circle having a circumferential direction, a radial direction, and an axis of symmetry, the first and second hub sections bearing a plurality of projections extending radially outwardly and having a distal portion forming an outermost portion of the hub and a proximal portion, the distal portion being substantially larger in the circumferential direction than the proximal portion,    molding first and second rim sections around the plurality of projections of the first and second hub sections, respectively; and    securing the first and second hub sections to one another to form a wheel.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein securing the first and second hub sections to one another comprises securing the first and second hub sections to a flange mounted to a shaft.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second rim sections include polyethylene and the hub sections include an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polymer.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2007247002A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.